QA1'S Low-Friction Ball Joint - Quick Tech: Chassis Qa1

While taking the tour around the annual Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council meet-ing in Los Angeles recently, we ran across the latest addition from QA1, its low-friction ball joint. This patented ball joint features an infinite preload adjustment that allows breakaway torque to be set as low as 0 lb-ft, delivering completely smooth, bind-free operation.

We found two ingenious features of the ball joint. First, while the infinite preload adjustment allows breakaway torque from 0 lb-ft to 25-plus lb-ft, there is no need to remove the ball joint from the car when making adjustments. Second, it is owner rebuildable. We disassembled and reassembled the whole unit in a less than two minutes in the conference room. An added bonus is that various ball studs are available for easy geometry changes which means you can fine-tune your roll center, a favorite topic of ours here at Circle Track.

QA1 built this ball joint with one of the most wear-resistant designs available today, including a precision tolerance ball and race conformity that results in even load distribution for unsurpassed wear resistance. A precision-ground 52100 bearing steel race ensures long life and ultra-smooth operation. That self-lubricating race is designed to handle severe impact and high-load applications without sacrificing performance. The ball joint is also fully greaseable, and is enhanced by self-lubricating components to ensure smooth operation.

A variety of applications from GM to Mopar will be available in the spring of 2008 in addition to replacement parts at economical prices. The manufacturer's sug-gested retail price is $44.95.